Torre says he's still too weak to rejoin Yankees

Posted: Saturday, May 01, 1999

The Associated Press

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - With Joe Torre still too weak to return to the dugout, Don Zimmer remained as the New York Yankees' interim manager Friday night instead of going home to tend to his ailing knee.

Torre, who had prostate cancer surgery March 18, joined the team on the road for the first time since the regular season began but said he's still not ready to handle the stress and pressure of managing.

"Why don't you ask me again in two weeks," Torre said before the Yankees opened a four-game series against Kansas City. "That's what I'm thinking about. I've never been through this, so I don't know what the timetable is."

Torre, 58, led the Yankees to two World Series titles in three years, taking the team to an American League-record 114 wins during the 1998 season.

Zimmer had hoped his friend would be able to return to the dugout Friday night.

"I hunger for it. But I know better right now," Torre said. "I feel good, but it's the stamina. I get tired in the evenings, and most of our work is in the evening. It's just that the days are a little too long sometimes. I'll be here through the weekend, just taking it as it comes."

Zimmer, 68, has promised to stay as long as Torre needs him even though he underwent arthroscopic surgery eight weeks ago on his right knee and is using a bat as a cane.

"I've been hurting for two months," Zimmer said. "Another month ain't going to hurt any more."

The Yankees went into Friday night's game atop the AL East with a 14-6 record.

"We've kept this thing going pretty good for him when he does come back," Zimmer said. "I didn't want him to come back too early, which he won't do, because I'm hurting."

Zimmer, who's been in the major leagues for 51 years, has refused to say he's retiring when Torre returns.

"I'm not quitting and I'm not retiring. I'm going home," he said. "There's nobody who has to feel sorry for me. The game goes on. Sandy Koufax quit. A .235 hitter like myself, if I go home, I go home."

Torre said it would be unfair to the team if he returns before he's strong enough.

"Let's admit it, in order to manage in this game, you've got to care," he said. "There's a lot of passion involved. And when you win and when you lose, there's a lot that goes into that. You understand how frustrating it gets. However, I can't relate to what Zim's going through because of the pain he's gone through the last two months. Since the surgery eight weeks ago, it's been torture."